Humphrey Ocean (b. 1951) Tin Can Island signed, inscribed and dated 'For Tony Reichardt/Humphrey Ocean 1982' (lower left) collage with postage stamps, colour pencil, ink and pastel 10¼ x 11¼ in. (26.6 x 28.5 cm.)
Tin Can Island, also known as Niuafo'ou is a volcanic island in the kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific. It derives its name from the fact that since the island has no natural harbour or wharf, mail is usually delivered by strong swimmers who would retrieve the packages sealed up in biscuit tins and thrown overboard by passing ships. Tin Can Mail was developed in the 19th century, festooning the mail with colourful stamps that have become collectors' items. Tony Reichardt is a passionate stamp collector.

reference:
the national portrait gallery collection
, 1988, by foister, gibson, rogers and simon.
the final version of the portrait (for which this is a preliminary sketch), now in the national portrait gallery, was painted at larkin's home in hull and completed on 10 august 1984, the day after his sixty-second birthday. larkin said 'that is my birthday present' and added that 'it could not have been more flattering without being less of a likeness, nor more of a likeness without being less flattering, which i take to be the definition of a successful portrait...i can certainly recommend mr ocean as a portrait painter, in the sense that he was punctual, industrious, entirely untemperamental and full of consideration for the comfort of his sitter.' ocean reported that at their first meeting 'halfway through lunch, he produced the postcard...of my mccartney picture, took my sleeve like a fifteen year old girl and whispered: "tell me all about him"...from then on nothing was too much trouble.'
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